Cutting-machine.



F. H.- SHERMAN.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men APR.5.1915.'

l',279,595. Patented Sept.- 24, 1918.

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srans FREDERICK I-I. SHERMAN, or

wn-rrrean, massaonusnr'rs, ASSIGNOR, 'BY MESNE.

ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNITED SHOEJYIACHINERY CORPORATION, 'OF PATEESON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. I z

Gamma-MACHI E. 1 r

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Sept. 24,1918.

Application filed April 5, 1915. J Serial No. 19,319.

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. SHER- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Whitman, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Cutting-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. e

This invention relates to machines and devices employed in the cutting of sheet material and particularly to means for maintain ing the material to be cut in proper position for the cutting operation or operations.

The invention is herein shown as embodied in a machine of the type known to the trade as the clicking machine, but it will be understood that the invention, in its broader aspects, is of general applicability in the cutting art.

In cutting sheet material which is supported upon a cutting block it is important that the material should not move over the surface ofthe block during the cutting operation, and when several th cknesses of material are out at one time it is also lmportant that the thicknesses of material should not in ove relatively to each other between the 7 cutting operations.

The machine'in which the invention is shown as embodied has come to beused quite extensively in the 'cuttlng of llnings for shoes and in the cutting of blanks from cloth and similar material which comes in sheets ofuniform character, whereby several blanks may be cut at a single operation simply by' superposing the layers of material and tore ing a die having" the shape'of the blank through these layers. pointed out in the specification of United States Letters Patent to C. E. Howe, No.

1,070,133, granted August 12, 1913, for 'immovements in cutting machines, itis not only important that the material to be cut befso held during and between the cutting operations that there' will be no relative slipp ng of the superposed layers, but it is also im:

portant that that part of the material which extends'heyond the edge of the bed-be so held as to prevent it from pulling the mate In such work, asf

rial upon the bed over the edge, eitherunder the actionof its own weight or by reason of its being movedaccidentally bythe operator in ad ust ng the die or oth'er cutting means over the cuttingblock. In saidLettersPat.

cut to Howe is disclosed means forjpreventing bothrelative movement of the layers the operator can conveniently swing the presser memberover the block and can conveniently reachthe die,.wherever located upon the block, the length of'the block being so proportioned to its desired widththat a presser member which will reach any point of the surface will not extend too far over the front of the block. The cutting blocks:

in machines offthe typeherein shown are usually about 36 inches long and are rarely over 40 inches long. Material, such as cloth, from. whichshoe linings and blanks are cut in the manner above described comes fre quently in widths of 60 inches or more, and

thus is wider than the greaterdimension of the cutting block, It is desirable that the means for preventing the relative movement of the material upon thelcutting block be so constructed that it will. handle con.ven-

iently'a-ny width of material which it is desired toqcut, and an object, of'the invention is to provide improved holding means which will operate upon material of any desired width.

A. further object of theinvention is to provide" means'for the "purposes above specified which can easily and quickly be incorporated ina machine of the type herein shown.

'Another object of the invention is'to pro vide means for the purposes above specified which,"while it'will accommodate 2L11Cl'6fi 6(3 tively hold material of any width,"does not occupy excessive floor space, and preferably does not materially, if at all,increase the required' floorspace for a machine ofithe type inwhich the invention is incorporated, j a

Other objects and important features of the invention will appear from the following description and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine having embodied therein the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail of the treadle and con nected parts;

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail "showing one of the lateral supports for the clamping roller; and

Fig. 4 is a broken perspective of the movable elamp member showing the construction of the inner face of said member.

The machine in which the invention is shown as incorporated is of the type known to the trade as the clicking machine and is more fully illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent to Arthur Bates, No. 921,503, May 11, 1909, certain mechanisms not shown in said patent to Arthur Bates being illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent to H. H. Eaton, No. 1,004,757, October 3, 1911.

This machine comprises a cutting block 2 supported upon a table 3 carried upon a stand 4, and over this cutting block a presser member 6 is adapted to swing into different operative positions, said presser member being carried upon a post or plunger 10 mounted for vertical reciprocation and for oscillation about its vertical axis in bearings 12 and 14 in an overhanging arm 15 carried by the stand 4. The operator swings the presser member laterally into its different operative positions by a handle 36 which may also be "depressed to actuate the mechanism for effecting the pressing operation.

As hereinabove pointed out, a common use to which machines of this type are now put is in cutting linings for shoe uppers, several thicknesses of lining material being laid one upon the other so that several blanks may be cut at one operation. This lining material, usually cloth, comes in bolts or rolls made (up of a considerable length of material, so that a part of the material from which the linings are to be cut hangs over an edge of the cut-ting block. Moreover, it is frequently desired to cut the linings from ma- .terial of a width considerably greater than that of the cutting block. The presentinvention aims to provide for the proper support of this material, both that which is upon the block and that which is to be operated upon later. To this end clamping means are provided which will clamp in position to be operated upon the portion of the material which is upon the block and is so constructed that it can handle not only material of the width of the cutting block but also material of any width, the support er th belt or rol o ma ria bei s9 restationary member of the clamp, said roll being located at the front of the machine and having pintles at its ends received in bearings in bracket slides 42. The slides 42 are provided with guideways 44 which receive guide members 46 upon bracket pins '48 clamped to the side of the table 3 by screws (not shown) which pass through slotted openings 50, whereby an adjustment of the distance of the roll 40 from the cutting block is permitted. The bracket slides 42 are provided with slots 52 through which extend clamp screws 54 by which said slides 42 are clamped upon the guides 46. The guideway 44 and the guides 46 are somewhat curved so that in its adjustment up and down the roll 40 may be made to clear the iron clamp 57 upon the cutting block 2.

The coiiperating member 56 of the clamping means has an inwardly curved or con- "cave face preferably provided with teeth or corrugations 58 whereby it may grip firmly the material curved over the surface of the roll. This member, which, for the sake of lightness and room, may be shorter than the roll 40, as shown, is arranged to be moved toward and away from the roll 40 and is normally held yieldingly in clamping relation to said roll. To permit the movement of the clamp member 56 into and out of clamping relation to the cooperating mernber 40 without interfering with the insertion between the clamp members of material wider than the clamping means the member 56 is arranged to swing about an axis below the support for that part of the material which extends below the clamping means, This material being supported in bulk in the illustrated construction in an open-ended trough 60 carried by brackets 62 so constructed that they may be hooked over parts of the stand 4 and may be held upon said stand by the weight of the trough and of the parts of the bracket which project in front of the stand. As shown. each bracket comprises a hook 64 which hooks over one of the horizontal bars 66 of the stand '4 and a second hook 68 which hooks over the back of one of the legs 70 of the stand. It will be seen thatv these hooks are so arranged that the hook 68 is drawn against the leg 70 by socket 78 in the support 74 and may be held in its different positions of adjustment by a setscrew 80, or the socket 7 8 may be split and provided with a screw extending across the opening, in the usual manner, to form. a clamp embracing said rod.

The support 74 isformcd as a yoke which has a bearing engagement upon the rod 76 upon eachside of aclamp 82 by which an arm 84 is clamped upon the rod 76, said arm 84 serving as a support for one end of a spring 86, the other end of which is con nected to a collar 88 on the rod 72. The spring 86 is so tensioned that it tends normally to hold the clamp member 56 in clamping relation to the clamp member 40. To hold the arm 84 firmly against the pull of the spring thereon when theclamp member 56 is being moved out of clamping relation to the member 40, said arm has hooked therein a bolt 90 connected by a turn buckle 92 to a second bolt or rod 94 hooked over the cross rod 96 in the rear of the machine base. By the turn buckle 92 the tension of the spring 86 may be adjusted. Projecting forwardly from the support 74 is a bracket 98 upon which a treadle 100 is clamped, the treadle and bracket arm having interlocking faces at the joint 102. so constructed and arranged that said treadle may be clamped upon the arm 98 in different positions of adjustment about the clamping bolt 104. The support for the treadle in the construction shown is 0 related to other parts of the clamping mechanism that the treadle is positioned between the clamp member 56and therod 76. iv

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United. States is:

1. In a machine for cutting flexible sheet material, a cutting block, and an operrended clamp located outside the cutting surface of said block for clamping the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of the block, said clamp having a smooth surface over which the material passes tothe cutting block and from which it depends as the stock supply for successive operations. p

2. In a machine of the class described, a

cutting block, and a clamp located outside the cutting surface of said block, said clamp said clamp comprising two members, one of comprising a roll, and a member having a concave face shaped and arranged to cooperate with the convex surface of said roll.

' 3. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, and an open ended clamp located outside the cutting surface of said block for clamping the material to be out which projects beyond theedge of the block,

which is movable into and out of clamping relation to the other about an'axis remote from the material engaging surface of said member, the construction and arrangement cutting block, and a clamp forclamping the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said block, saidclamp comprising a roll located adjacent to theblock and over which the material to'be out passes, and a cooperatingclamp member having a concave surface arranged to cooperate with the convex surface of said roll. "T I 6. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, and a clamp for clamping the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said block, said clamp comprising a roll supported adjacent to said block, and a cooperating clamp member arranged to be swung into and out of cooperative relation to said roll about an axis parallel to the axis of said roll, aid member having a con; cave clamping face curved about an axis parallel'to the axis of said roll. 7

7. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, an open-ended clamp for the material-to be out which projects beyond the edge of said bed, said clamp comprising a roll 'supportedadjacent to a side of said bed, and a cooperating clamping' member arranged to be swung into and out of clamping relation to said roll about an axis parallel to said roll, and means tending yieldingly. to maintain said clamping member in operative relation to said roll. 7 8. In a ma'chine'of theclass described, a cutting block, means for clamping the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said block, said means comprising a clamp member located adjacent to the'b'lock', and a second clamp member arranged to be. swung into and out-of cooperative relation to said first member about an axisparallel to the edge of said block, means for yieldingly maintaining aid members in cooperative clamping relation, and means for varying the clamping pressure. I 9. In a'machine of the class described, acutting bed, a clamp for the material'to be out which projects beyond the edge of said bed, said clamp comprising a memberadja-i cent to the side ofsaid bed and a second 125 10. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, an openended clamp for the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said bed, said clamp comprising a member adjacent to the side of said bed, a second member arranged to be swung into and out of operative relation to said first member about an axis substantially parallel to the edge of said bed, means for yieldingly maintaining said clamping members in 00- operative relation, and a treadle for moving said members into unclamping relation.

11. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, means for clamping the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of the block, said means comprising a clamp member extending along substantially the whole front edge of said block, and a cooperating clamp member arranged to be swung into and out of cotiperative relation to said first-mentioned clamp member, said cooperating clamp member extending along a portion only of the front edge of said block, both said clamp members being adjustable vertically to correspond with marked differences in the thickness of the work presented to the clamping means.

12. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, an open-ended clamp arranged to clamp the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said bed, said clamp comprising cooperating members arranged for relative movement about an axis extending parallel to the edge of the cutting bed, and supports for said members so shaped and arranged as to provide an open space below the clamping surfaces of said members for a material receiving trough, and a trough in said space.

13. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, an open-ended clamp arranged to clamp the material to be out which proj ects beyond the edge of said bed, said clamp comprising cooperating members arranged for relative movement about an axis extending parallel to the edge of the cutting bed, and supports for said members so shaped and arranged as provided an open space below the clamping surfaces of said members for a material receiving trough, and an openended trough in said space. A

14. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, an .open-ended clamp for clamping the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said block, and an open-ended trough for the material which extends below said clamp, said clamp com prising cooperating clamp members and sup ports for said members arranged to embrace said trough.

15. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, a presser member supported behind said cutting block and arranged to swing over said block into different operatiVe relations thereto, an open-ended clamp located in front of said block for clamping the material to be out which projects beyond the front edge of said block, and a trough for receiving and supporting the free end of the material, one of said clamp members being supported above said trough, and the other clamp member being supported below said trough.

16. In a machine of the class described, a cutting bed, an open-ended clamp arranged to clamp the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said bed, and a trough for the free end of the material, said clamp comprising two members normally in cooperative clamping relation above said trough and movable relatively to each other about an axis below said trough.

, 17. In a machine of the class described, a cutting 'bed, an openended clamp arranged to clamp the material to be out which pro jects beyond the edge of said bed, and a trough for receiving and supporting the free end of said material, said clamp comprising two members supported for relative movement into and out of clamping relation to each other, the support for one of said members extending over the outside of said trough.

18. I11 a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutting bed, and a supporting stand therefor having vertical and horizontal members, of a clamp arranged to clamp the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said bed, a material receiving trough below said clamp, and supporting means for said trough comprising a hook engaging a vertical member of said stand, and another hook engaging a horizontal member.

19. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, a clamp for supporting the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said block, said clamp comprising a member adjacent to said block, and another member arranged to be swung into and. out of operative relation to said first member about an axis below said block, and a treadle for swinging said member awayv from the first-mentioned member and located between said member and the axis about which it swings.

20. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, a clamp for clamping the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said block, said clamp comprising a member adjacent to the block, a second member arranged to be swung toward and from the first member about an axis below the block, a spring tending normally to hold said second member in clamping position,

and a treadle connected to said member for material to be out which projects beyond the edge of said block, said clamp comprising a member supported adjacent to said block, and a second member having a support arranged to turn about a horizontal axis below said block, means for maintaining said second member in clamping position, and a treadle mounted upon said support and adjustable to bring its tread into diflerent elevations.

22. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, a cutting block stand, a clamp for clamping the material to be out which projects beyond the block, said clamp comprising a member supported adjacent to the block upon said stand, a trough for holding the material which extends through the clamp, said trough being carried by said stand, and a second clamp member having a support fulcrumed upon said stand below said trough, whereby said second member may be swung into and out of clamping relation to said first-mentioned clamp member to clamp material of any width extending between said clamp members.

23. In a machine for cutting flexible sheet material, the combination with a cutting block, of means for clamping a portion of the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of the block to prevent movement of the material on the block, said means comprising members relatively movable to clamp or release the material and constructed to permit the material to project lengthwise of the block beyond the ends of said members, one of said members having a curved surface over which the material passes to the cutting block and fromwhich it depends as the stock supply for successive operations.

24. In a machine for cutting flexible sheet material, the combination with a cutting block, of means forclamping a portion of the material to be out which projects beyond the edge of the block, said means comprising clamp members extending lengthwise of the block and limited in length to prevent them from projecting materially beyond the ends of the block, said clamping means being open at its ends to permit the the table, and a second clamp member de signed for pivotal mounting upon the sup port or frame of the cutting table and arranged to cooperate with the first-mentioned clamp member to hold the material to be out upon said cutting table.

26. An attachment for use with a cutting block comprising an open ended clamp having a curved surface over which the material passes to the cutting block and from which it depends as the immediate stock supply for successive operations, and means for detachably securing the clamp to the sup-- port or frame of the cutting block.

27. An attachment for use with a cutting table comprising an open-ended clamp having a curved surface over which the material passes to the cutting table and from which it depends as the immediate stock supply for successive operations, an openended trough to receive a supply of material to be operated on, and means for detachably securing the clamp and trough to the support or frame of the table.

28. An attachment for use with a cutting block comprising a clamp member over which the material passes to the cutting block, said clamp member being adapted for attachment to the cutting block, a cooperating clamp member designed for detachable, pivotal mounting upon the supports for the cutting block, and a trough for asupply of material to be operated upon, said trough having means to engage detachably horizontal and upright portions of the frame or support for the cutting block.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK H. SHERMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,279,595, granted September 24 7 1918, upon the application of Frederick H. Sherman, of Whitman, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Cutting-Machines, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 108, for the Word This, commencing with a capital T, read this, to form a part of the last clause of the sentence; page 4, line 48, claim 13, for the Word provided read to promlde; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of May, A. D., 1919.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

